French Conversation · Level 104
60 words
French word
méchanceté
Pronunciation
IPA/meʃɑ̃səte/
Meaning
- feminine nounmeanness
Example
Sa méchanceté me blesse.
Her meanness hurts me.
More examples
Il a agi par pure méchanceté.
He acted out of pure malice.
Core concept
A mean streak that emerges through hurtful speech or conduct toward another person.
Common phrases
un geste de méchanceté
an act of malice
parler avec méchanceté
speak maliciously
Similar words
malveillance: Deliberate ill will aimed at causing someone harm.
mépris: Contempt for someone viewed as lacking value or worth.
Definition in French
Désigne la qualité d'être méchant, c'est-à-dire l'expression d'une intention ou d'un acte blessant envers quelqu'un.
Word origin
French formed méchanceté from méchant by adding -eté, a suffix used to create abstract nouns and historically related to Latin -itas.
Usage tips
- Méchanceté can name either a general disposition or a specific instance of nastiness, while malveillance stresses harmful intent and cruauté stresses brutality.
Other meanings
- malicenoun
- crueltynoun
Opposites
- bontégoodnessnoun
- gentillessekindnessnoun
Related words
- méchantmaliciousadjective
- méchammentmaliciouslyadverb